University of the Azores partnership

In June 2016, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro, Dean Dr. Sandra Witte, Sr. Director of Development/Ag One Executive Director Alcidia Freitas Gomes and faculty member John Cordeiro traveled to Angra, Terceira to sign an agreement with the University of the Azores which established an exchange program for students majoring in agriculture.

Latest Updates:

Summer internship exchange (June - July 2018)

Students from both universities participated in a month-long paid internship exchange, which provided hands-on learning experiences in both locations. In June, 3 students from Fresno State traveled to the Azores for their internship and studied a variety of topics from animal nutrition feed labs, observing the history of the wine industry and learning about harvesting techniques. In July, 3 students from the Azores traveled to Fresno and have been working on campus at the dairy and sheep units as well as participating in research at the graduate laboratory. Both groups were taken on trips around the respective regions to learn more about the country and culture. Thank you to the Luso American Development Foundation, Helder and Cindy Domingos, Tulare Angra Sister City Foundation and the office of the Mayor, Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, Azores, who have made this program a reality.

Click to see a spotlight on Your Central Valley about the students visiting Fresno.

 

First group of Fresno State students travel to the Azores (May 2017)

May 21-30, 12 students from the Jordan College visit the Azores for the first time as part of the exchange program with the University of the Azores.  They will tour the islands of Terceira and Sao Miguel for 10 days learning about agriculture in this volcanic archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean. They will experience first-hand animal production, permanent and annual crops, green houses, food processing, tea plantations, etc.  Faculty members John Cordeiro, Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education along with Maggie Ellis, Department of Plant Science, accompany the students.

 

First group of Portuguese students traveled to California (Sept. 2016)

September 4-17, 9 students and 2 advisers from the University of the Azores visited California to begin their two-week exchange program, learning about agriculture in the state and Central Valley. Their experiences included tours in animal production, permanent crops, annual crops, plus a visit to Kings Canyon National Park and Napa Valley.  Next May, a group of 10 Fresno State students will travel to the Azores with faculty members John Cordeiro and Margaret Ellis for their two-week exchange program to learn about agriculture in the region.

Ceremonial Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with University of the Azores (June 2016)

On June 22, Fresno State President Joseph Castro signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the Azores Angra do Heroismo campus on the island of Terceira. The academic exchange agreement will create agricultural opportunities for Fresno State students to study abroad in Portugal and for Portuguese students to experience central valley agriculture. The signing included a performance by the Livingston Philharmonic Band playing the Fresno State fight song to a packed house of mainly alumni and friends from the Central Valley (video here). Photographed signing of the MOU (l-r) are Angra Mayor Alamo Meneses, representing the President of the Azores was Director of the Sea, science and Technology Fausto Brito de Abreu, Pro Rector of the University of the Azores Susana Leal, Fresno State President Joseph Castro and Tulare Angra Sister City Foundation representative David Mendonca. Other week-long activities included tours of the island, educational sessions with the university and social engagements with alumni and friends.

Helder and Cindy Domingos pledge support to Azores Exchange Program (June 2016)

Alumnus Helder Domingos and his wife Cindy have pledged their support of Fresno State's partnership with the University of the Azores, helping to establish an exchange program for students majoring in agriculture. Helder was born on the island of Pico in the Azores and is a 1980 graduate of the Jordan College's Industrial Technology department and Cindy is the proud parent of two alumni. Together with Helder's Portuguese heritage and their love of supporting education, they are helping the college to engage globally and provide international agricultural experiences for our valley's students and those coming from the Azores.

Fresno State group visits Azores (April 2016)
Dean Dr. Sandra Witte, Alcidia Freitas Gomes and Jordan College Manager of Grants and International Programs Dr. Bill Erysian visited Angra do Heroísmo, on the island of Terceira, Azores the week of April 11-15 to continue work on the partnership between Fresno State and the University of the Azores and to finalize plans for their return trip June 20-24 with Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro.

Group from the Azores visits Fresno State (April 2016)
The Jordan College hosted representatives from the government of Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, Azores, along with board members from the Tulare-Angra Sister City Foundation, Azorean musicians and Tulare high school students and parents for a farm tour and lunch in the almond orchard. The visit is a continued effort to build a partnership with the Luso-American Development Foundation, the University of the Azores and Fresno State and includes collaboration with the College of Arts and Humanities.

Fresno State receives grant to support Portuguese exchange program (March 2016)
A nearly $50,000 grant to Ag One will provide Fresno State with seed funding to forge a new international relationship in support of agricultural education. Lisbon-based Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) gave $49,000 to launch a partnership between Fresno State and the University of the Azores, which will open educational and research opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions. Ag One also received a $2,000 gift from the Tulare-Angra do Heroismo Sister City Foundation to support the program. The partnership is expected to offer a two-way exchange, creating opportunities for Fresno State students to study in Portugal, as well as for faculty and students from the University of the Azores to learn about agriculture, government relations and Portuguese-American culture in the Central Valley. Read the full press release here.

Tulare-Angra do Heroismo Sister City Foundation hosts dinner to announce Fresno State exchange program (Jan. 2016)
Fresno State President Dr. Joseph I. Castro, Mrs. Mary Castro and Dean Dr. Sandra Witte joined members of the Ag One staff at the Tulare-Angra do Heroismo Sister City Foundation event on January 30, 2016. This inaugural Portuguese soup dinner was sold out. The purpose was to announce the soon-to-be formalized student exchange program between Fresno State and the University of the Azores for students majoring in agriculture.

 

 

Click for FLAD AgTech Program Information

 

Click for Azores Summer 2019 Travel Learn program information